Culvert.



W. I. COX.

CULVERT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8.19m.

1,230,383. Patented June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

invulforwww@ (libwww:

W. l. COX.

CULVERT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1916.

1,230,383, Patented June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ZA 5144212 who@ Wit/mean J- 60% o? atto/snmp Aas `UNITED srnrns WILLIAM J. COX, 0F MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS.

CULVERT.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented June 19, 191'?.

Application led May 8, 1916. Serial No. 96,151.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. Cox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monmouth, in the county of Warren and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Culverts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in eulverts of the type constructed of cement or other hardening plastic material, the 0bject being to Hprovide simple and inexpensive yet highly e cient and durable constructlon whereby eulverts of numerous lengths may be made in sections at a factory and shipped to other points for use, improved types of joints being provided between the numerous sections whereby they may be secured together without the use of mortar.

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section, showing a culvert constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the opposite ends of a pair of the intermediate sections of the culvert;

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewshowing the reinforcing means of said intermediate sections; and,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly in section showing a 4modified form of construction.

In specifically describing the construction shown in the drawings above briefly described, similar characters will be placed on corresponding parts throughout the several views, and reference will be herein made to the numerous elements b v their respective indices. To this end, the numeral 1 designates the improved culvert which comprises arched end sections 2 and 3 and arched intermediate sections 4, the latter being all of similar shape while the sections 2 and 3 vary slightly as shown.

The ends 5 and 6 of the sections are inclined in parallel planes, said ends 5 having formed thereon a dove tail 7 and a plurality of projecting ribs 8, the. former being disposed at the crown of the arch while the ribs 8 extend transversely of the sides and bottom thereof, said sides and bottom being indicated respectively by the numerals 9 and 10. The rib 8 on the end of the bottom 10 preferably increases gradually in size from its lower to its upper end while the other ribs will be of equal proportions throughout. The dovetail 7 also preferably increases in size from its lower to its upper side.

The end 6 of each section 4 has formed therein a dovetail socket 11 and a plurality of transverse grooves 12, the former being disposed at the crown of the arch and being shaped to snugly receive therein the dovetail 7 of an adjacent section 4. The grooves 6 receive therein the ribs 8 of said adjacent setion and are shaped to snugly engage said r1 s.

The end section 2 is identical in shape with one end of any of the sections 4 while the section 3 is shaped similarly to the other end of said sections, both ofsaid sections 2 and 3 having formed integrally therewith transverse walls 13 which extend beyond the crowns and sides thereof, said walls servin to support a ridge of earth which will be piled above the complete culvert. DueV to the interlocking joints formed by the dovetails 7 and sockets 11, lateral pressure of the earth on the walls 13 cannot separate the sections of the culvert and the interengaging ribs and grooves 8 and 12will prevent said sections from shifting laterally, it being therefore obvious that an extremely eiicient culvert has been provided regardless of the fact that it is simple and comparatively inexpensive.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, a reinforcing rod 14 is embedded in each section 4, said rods being bent upon themselves at their centers to provide open loops 15 which v are located in the dovetails 7 and thereby effectively reinforce the latter, the ends of said rod being twisted together at 16 and extending along the crown of the arch, said ends diverging from the twisted portion, extending along the edges of the socket 11 as indicated at 17, and then extending downwardly at 18 in substantially parallel relation with the end 6. This forms an effective reinforcing means for not only the dovetail and socket but for the crown and sides of each section 4. Rods 141l constructed in somewhat the same manner as 14 are embedded in the end sections 2 and 3 and perform the same functions.

Additional reinforcing rods 19 are embedded in the sections 4, said rods being arched and extending over the crowns of said sections and along the sides thereof, said rods being preferably inclined as shown and having their free ends disposed at the end 6 and formed into eyes as indicated at 20, the aforesaid sections havingr sockets 21 with which said eyes register. he eyes 20 and sockets 21 receive the projecting ends 22 of additional arched reinforcing rods 23 which cross the rods 19 and incline in the opposite directions, said ends 22 projecting beyond the ends 5 of said sections 4. This arrangement will not only edectively reinforce the intermediate sections of the culn vert but will form a reliable lock between said sections as will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

The end section 3 is provided with a reinforcing rod 19 having at its free end an eye 20a which receives the projecting end 22 of.

the reinforcing rod 23 with which the section 4 abutting said end section is provided. Similarly, the section 2 has embedded therein a rod 23a having its projecting ends 22a received in the eyes 20 of the adjacent sect-ion 4.

All of the sections 2, 3 and 4 are preferably formed with longitudinal bores extending through the sides thereof, these bores receiving a pair of rods 24 extending throughout the full length of the arch, nuts and washers 25 being positioned on the ends of said rods as shown.

1n Fig. 8 the construction is identical with that above described with the exception that the reinforcing rods 19 are omitted and in lieu of the eyes 2O thereof short lengths of pipe 26 are provided, this formation being also eiiicient.

By constructing the improved culvert in the manner shown and described, the numerous sections thereof may be manufactured at a factory and may be shipped therefrom to the localities at which they are to be used. Since all of the sections 4 are identical, it will be obvious that by using the required number thereof, a culvert of any length may be constructed, the end sections 2 and 3 being applicable regardless of the length of the structure. These advantages allow culverts to be constructed much more 1,eso,eee

easily and inexpensively than when it is necessary to transport a cement mixing machine from place to place and to assemble forms for the structures.

1n the foregoing, 1 have described certain specific details for accomplishing probably the best results and in the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated such details, but It wish it understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed numerous changes may be made without sacricing the main advantages thereof.

1 claim:

1. An arched culvert section formed of plastic material and having at the ends of its crown a dovetail and a dovetail socket, and a reinforcing rod embedded in said section, said rod being bent between its ends to form a loop positioned in the dovetail, the ends of said rod being twisted together and extending along the crown of the arch to the socket, said ends diverging at this point,

extending along the edge of said socket and projecting downwardly within the sides of the arch.

2. In combination, a pair of arched tile sections disposed end to end and having an interlocking connection to prevent one from shifting endwise from the other, and interengaging ribs and ooves extending radially across the abuttlng ends of said sections to prevent relative turning thereof.

3. 1n combination, a pair of arched tile sections disposed end to end, an interlocking dove-tail connection between the abutting ends of said sections at the crown thereof to prevent one section from moving endwise from the other, and interengaging ribs and grooves extending radially across the abutting ends of the two sections to prevent relative turning thereof.

4. A reinforcement for an arched tile section having a dove-tail at one end and a dove-tail notch at the other end of its crown, said reinforcement being formed of a single rod bent upon itself at its center to form a loop to extend into the dove-tail, the two halves of said 4rod being twisted together throughout the inner portions of their lengths to extend along the ridge of the arch from one end thereof to the other, said halves being then bowed outwardly to reinforce the edges of the dove-tail 4notch and then bent downwardly for reception in the sides of the arch. Y

1n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. 'WILLIAM J. (30X. Witnesses E. Gr. Goor-REY, Gao. E. Cox. 

